Spaced chess clocks

ABSTRACT

An assembly of spaced chess clocks, each present on support means flanking a chess board area, said clocks being operated by multiposition switches present on each of the flanking support means. Each flanking support means additionally has a circuit activating on-off switch, a move light to indicate that the opponent must execute a move, and a circuit activating indicator light. Each of the flanking support means may further be provided with a high intensity lamp separately operated by switch means. The multiposition switches are connected by a circuit which is responsive to like oriented switch positions where one clock is disconnected, the other clock is started, and a move light is energized to indicate that the player must execute a move whose clock has been started. Each clock is pivotally mounted to the support means so the clocks can assume a number of different viewing and non-viewing positions.

United States Patent [191 Prociuk 51 Apr. 22, 1975 1 SPACED CHESS CLOCKS176] lnventor: Anatol Prociuk, 4750 S. Tripp Ave.. Chicago. 111. 60632[22] Filed: May 13, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 469,319

Primary Eruminer-George H. Miller. .1 r

[ 1 7 ABSTRACT An assembly of spaced chess clocks, each present onsupport means flanking a chess board area. said clocks being operated bymultiposition switches present on each of the flanking support means.Each flanking support means additionally has a circuit activating onoffswitch, a move light to indicate that the opponent must execute a move.and a circuit activating indicator light. Each of the flanking supportmeans may further be provided with a high intensity lamp separatelyoperated by switch means. The multiposition switches are connected by acircuit which is responsive to like oriented switch positions where oneclock is disconnected. the other clock is started. and a move light isenergized to indicate that the player must execute a move whose clockhas been started. Each clock is pivotally mounted to the support meansso the clocks can assume a number of different viewing and non-viewingpositions.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Y mmmmwz 531878.675 SHEETZPfZ CLOCK 488KSPACED crnzss CLOCKS This invention relates to an assembly of spacedchess clocks combined with support means which flank a chess board area.The invention particularly relates to such an improved assembly whereinthe chess clocks are connected by improved circuit means which providesfor circuit activation and operation. together with illuminatedindicators of clock operation.

It is recognized that tournament chess is played with clocks wherein thetime spent by each player is accu-' mulated on clocks for each player.The accumulated time is recorded conventionally by each player operatingswitch means as soon as the player has executed a move. Such operatedswitch means stops the clock of the player who executed the move andstarts the opponents clock. Gear trains or electric circuitsinterconnect such clocks so they are responsive to the players operatingthe switch means.

Such clocks are provided in the art within a unitary casing equippedwith two switches. and the necessary interconnection within the casing.Such a clocking device is placed to one side of the board which requiresone player to operate the switch with the right hand while his opponentoperates the switch with the left hand. Not only does this result in atleast some awkward manual movements. but the faces of the clock are inplanes generally parallel to the direction of vision of the players.This results in further inconvenience to the players with respect toease of observing accumulated time.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide an improved assemblyof spaced chess clocks. each positioned at one of opposite flankinglocations relative to a chess board area. A further aspect of thisobject is the realized advantage that each player can operate the clockright handedly because of such spaced locations. This is a decidedadvantage because there is a decided majority of right-handed players inthe population.

Another object of the invention is the provision of spaced chess clocksinterconnected by improved electric circuit means so that both clocksrespond to moving conveniently connected switch means by each player.This object is further attained to advantage by providing each of theclocks with pivotal mounting so that any clock can be rotated by any ofthe players for selected viewing or non-viewing.

Yet still another object of the present invention is the provision ofspaced chess clocks electrically interconnected by improved circuitmeans which allow preliminary activation and verification of theoperating circuit so that the players can readily be assured of desiredclock operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of spacedchess clocks interconnected by improved circuit means which allow aplayer to disconnect and operate clocks by a movable switch. andsimultaneously energize and disconnect move lights which indicate theone players clock is running while the other players clock isdisconnected.

The foregoing objects are attained together with still other objectswhich will occur to other practitioners from time to time uponconsidering the disclosure of the following invention. which includesdrawings wherein:

FIG. I is a top plan view of an assembly with the spaced chess clocks:

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in the view ofFIG. 1:

2' FIG. 3 is an enlarged portional view. partly in section. of theassembly shown in the view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top plan view. in a reduced scale of an assemblyincluding separate support means; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit interconnecting the spaced chess clocksand other components.

Use of the same numerals in the different views of the drawing willindicate a reference to the same elements. parts or structures. as thecase may be.

In FIG. I is shown a clock and support assembly generally indicated at6. This support means is shown as having a top support surface 8 withportions flanking a chess board area on which is located chess board 10.Each of the flanking support means is further seen as having a highintensity light assembly 12 which is operated by switch means. notshown.

On the top surface 8 of each flanking support means is further shown aclock 14. Below the top support surface 8 is seen a circuit housing 18which holds the electric circuit means interconnecting the clocks andother components to be later described. A pair of U-shaped legs 20 arefixed to the bottom of the circuit housing. only one of said legs beingshown. Friction pads 22 are shown in the bottom of the leg member.

The electric circuit means within housing 18 further interconnect anon-off circuit activating switch 24 present on each of the flankingsupport surface portions further have an on-off light indicator 26 whichis energized or illuminated by the activating switch 24. In addition.each of said support portions include a multiposition switch 28 whichoperates the clocks by disconnecting and starting such clocks. Eachflanking support portion is finally shown as including a clock indicatoror move light 30. The energized move light 30 on a flanking supportportion to the right of a player indicates that the clock is operatingon the same flanking support portion. The move light 30 advises a playerthat his clock is operating. and will continue to operate until theplayer moves and activates the multiposition switch'28 to his right.

Each clock is shown as being mounted to the top surface of the supportmeans by a pivot which includes a bearing ring 32 fixed to the clock anda support bearing ring 34 mounted to the surface support 8. A tubularshaft 36 extends below the support and the part of such shaft. nowshown. is fixed to clock bearing 32. The tubular shaft extends throughpassageway 38 in the support means and shaft has a nut 40 and washer 41combination which compressively supports spring 42. The spring is biasedagainst the underside of the support and the washer 41 to urge clockbearing ring 32 against support bearing ring 34. In the illustratedembodiment. the clock 14 can be rotated 360 to assume a variety ofviewing and non-viewing positions relative to each of the opposingplayers.

The use of the foregoing assembly may be further understood by referenceto the schematic of FIG. 5. A dotted divider line 44 separates thecircuit into control areas A and B representing opposing players. Eachof the areas have the same operating components such as a lamp .12.activating switch 24, activating light switch indicator 26,multiposition switch 28, and move light 30.

Each multiposition switch is of the double pole. double throw type. AreaA shows poles 48. 49 contacting terminals to the right and such polescan also contact their terminals to the left. Such pole positions areshown oriented relative to a player having control area A to his right.The activating switch A24 is of the double pole. single throw type whichconnects pole 48 via contact 50 to conductor 52 which. in turn. connectsclock B16 and move light B in the B control area. Switch A24 also closescontact 51. at the same time. to activate light indicator B26 so itsillumination indicates connection of the foregoing part circuit.

The multiposition switch 28 in the B control area is also shown as beingof the double pole. double throw type. Poles 54., 55. having bridging orcrossing terminals. can be repositioned to contact terminals to the leftand to the right. such positions also being oriented relative to thecontrol area A to the right of a player. The on-off activating switchB24 also connects a part circuit by closing contact 56 to connect pole54 to conductor 58 which. in turn. connects clock A16 and move light A30in control area A. Switch B24 also closes contact 57. at the same time.to activate switch light indicator A26 to show the player that thecircuit is partly connected.

Operation of the multiposition switches then allows completion of thecircuit so that the completed circuit responds by disconnecting theplayer's clock and starting the opponent player's clock. as well asilluminating a move light 30 on the flanking support means of theopposing player. The illustrated circuit shows the switch B28 startingthe clock in the A control area. disconnecting the clock in the Bcontrol area. and illuminating the move light in the A control area. Theswitches are shown in unlike oriented position. that is. switch A28contacts terminals to the right and switch B28 contacts terminals to theleft. relative to a player having the A control area to his right. Whenthe switches are in like oriented position. either both right or bothleft. then the clock in the B control area is started. the clock in theA control area is disconnected. and the move light in the B control areais illuminated. This orientation is not always the same for a givenplayer in view of the convention that white chess pieces move first. Theorientation of the multiposition switches is important in the sense thatwhen the switches are in like oriented position relative to a givenplayer. one clock stops and the other clock starts. The move lightassociated with such other clock also starts. The unlike orientedposition of the switches results in stopping said other clock andstarting the one clock. The move light associated with such one clockalso starts.

The electric circuit is powered by a voltage source shown here as an ACvoltage cord having lines 59, 60. In the illustrated unlike orientedswitch positions, the circuit is completed from line 59 to pole 54, tocontact 56, conductor 58. in the move light 30 in parallel with clock 16in the A control area. conductor 66, pole 49 of the switch 28 in the Acontrol area, conductor 68 and 60 of the AC cord. The same operatingcircuit starts clock 16 in the B control area which is joined to thecircuit by conductors 52 and 69. In this operating circuit. poles 55 ofthe multiposition switch in the B control area and pole 48 of themultiposition switch in the A control area are connected only to line 60of the AC cord. therefore. the clock and the move light in the B controlarea are not energized.

After the player in the A control area makes his move. the poles 48. 49of the switch are moved to contact the left terminals relative to theplayer having control area A to' his right. This places the switchposition of both players in the same oriented positions. Such movementof the switch disconnects the clock A16 and the move light A30. Thecircuit is then completed from line 60 in the AC voltage cord to pole bythe bridging terminals. then conductor 69 to clock B16 in parallel withmove light B30, and the conductor 52 to contact 50 in activating switchA24, then pole 48, across linking terminals to conductor 59a and to line59 of the AC voltage cord. This circuit energizes move light B30 andstarts clock B16. In these switch positions. poles 54, 49 are connectedonly to line so clock A16 and the move light A30 are not energized.

FIG. 4 shows physically separated flanking support means 72, 74 placedon a base such as table 76. A chess board 77 is positioned in the chessboard area between the flanking support means. An AC cord 78 providescurrent to the electric circuit means which include interconnectingcords 79 joined to coupler terminal 80. Cords 79 and coupler 80 may bemoved from the table surface. as by hanging over an edge. passingthrough openings in the table surface. or by other means.

The claims of the invention are now presented and the terms of suchclaims may be further understood by reference to the language of thepreceding specification and the views of the drawings.

What is claimed is:

l.-An assembly of spaced chess clocks. including support means at leastflanking a chess board area.

a player's clock pivotally mounted'on support means to the right of theplayer in one flanking relationship to the chess board area.

an opposing players clock pivotally mounted on the support means to theright of the opposing player in the other flanking relationship relativeto the chess board area.

a players double pole, double throw multiposition switch on the supportmeans in the area of said players clock.

an opposing players double pole. double throw multiposition switch onthe support means in the area of said opposing player's clock.

an electric circuit connecting said clocks in the multipositionswitches.

circuit means responsive to multiple switch positions of the doublepole. double throw switches so that like oriented positions for each ofthe switches starts a players clock and stops the opposing playersclock. and unlike oriented positions for each of the switches stops saidplayer's clock and starts said opposing players clock,

a single throw. double pole activating switch on each of the flankingsupport means. and

an activating electric circuit to connect a part of the electric circuitto the clock of the opposing player when a player operates saidactivating switch.

2. An assembly of spaced chess clocks which includes the features ofclaim 1, wherein said support means are 5 separated support portions.and an interconnectingincluding an adjoining housing to hold aninterconnecting electrical circuit.

4. An assembly of spaced chess clocks which include the features ofclaim I wherein a lamp is mounted on each of said flanking supportmeans. said lamp connected to said electric circuit. and said lamp beingoperated independently of said activating switch and said multipositionswitch.

5. An assembly of spaced chess clocks which include the features ofclaim 1 wherein the circuit means includes a pair of lines in a voltagecord. said activating switches movable to connect a circuit from themultiposition switches to the clocks. indicator lights. and move lightson a flanking support means. and said multiposition switches movable tocomplete the circuit so that the clock and move light on the player'ssupport means is disconnected. and the clock and move light on theopposing player's support means is started.

6. An assembly of spaced chess clocks which includes the features ofclaim 1. and which further includes a move indicator light on eachflanking support means. and said electric circuit connecting said moveindicator lights so that an illuminated move indicator light representsa running clock which is accumulating time required for a player toexecuter moves.

7.A spaced chess clock assembly which includes the features of claim 6and which further includes an activating circuit indicator light on eachof the flanking support means. said activating circuit indicator lightbeing illuminated when the activating switch connects said activatingcircuit.

1. An assembly of spaced chess clocks, including support means at leastflanking a chess board area, a player''s clock pivotally mounted onsupport means to the right of the player in one flanking relationship tothe chess board area, an opposing player''s clock pivotally mounted onthe support means to the right of the opposing player in the otherflanking relationship relative to the chess board area, a player''sdouble pole, double throw multiposition switch on the support means inthe area of said player''s clock, an opposing player''s double pole,double throw multiposition switch on the support means in the area ofsaid opposing player''s clock, an electric circuit connecting saidclocks in the multi-position switches, circuit means responsive tomultiple switch positions of the double pole, double throw switches sothat like oriented positions for each of the switches starts a player''sclock and stops the opposing player''s clock, and unlike orientedpositions for each of the switches stops said player''s clock and startssaid opposing player''s clock, a single throw, double pole activatingswitch on each of the flanking support means, and an activating electriccircuit to connect a part of the electric circuit to the clock of theopposing player when a player operates said activating switch.
 1. Anassembly of spaced chess clocks, including support means at leastflanking a chess board area, a player''s clock pivotally mounted onsupport means to the right of the player in one flanking relationship tothe chess board area, an opposing player''s clock pivotally mounted onthe support means to the right of the opposing player in the otherflanking relationship relative to the chess board area, a player''sdouble pole, double throw multiposition switch on the support means inthe area of said player''s clock, an opposing player''s double pole,double throw multiposition switch on the support means in the area ofsaid opposing player''s clock, an electric circuit connecting saidclocks in the multi-position switches, circuit means responsive tomultiple switch positions of the double pole, double throw switches sothat like oriented positions for each of the switches starts a player''sclock and stops the opposing player''s clock, and unlike orientedpositions for each of the switches stops said player''s clock and startssaid opposing player''s clock, a single throw, double pole activatingswitch on each of the flanking support means, and an activating electriccircuit to connect a part of the electric circuit to the clock of theopposing player when a player operates said activating switch.
 2. Anassembly of spaced chess clocks which includes the features of claim 1,wherein said support means are separated support portions, and aninterconnecting electric circuit joining said spaced support portions.3. An assembly of spaced chess clocks as in claim 1 wherein said supportmeans is a unitary support means, including an adjoining housing to holdan interconnecting electrical circuit.
 4. An assembly of spaced chessclocks which include the features of claim 1 wherein a lamp is mountedon each of said flanking support means, said lamp connected to saidelectric circuit, and said lamp being operated independently of saidactivating switch and said multiposition switch.
 5. An assembly ofspaced chess clocks which include the features of claim 1 wherein thecircuit means includes a pair of lines in a voltage cord, saidactivating switches movable to connect a circuit from the multipositionswitches to the clocks, indicator lights, and move lights on a flankingsupport means, and said multiposition switches movable to complete thecircuit so that the clock and move light on the player''s support meansis disconnected, and the clock and move light on the opposing player''ssupport means is started.
 6. An assembly of spaced chess clocks whichincludes the features of claim 1, and which further includes a moveindicator light on each flanking support means, and said electriccircuit connecting said move indicator lights so that an illuminatedmove indicator light represents a running clock which is accumulatingtime required for a player to executer moves.